One Man, One Horse – Or So It Felt
You know, that phrase ‘one man one horse’ really takes me back. It sounds kinda romantic, like some lone ranger riding off into the sunset. But let me tell you, when you’re living it, especially in a work setting, it’s a whole different story. It’s not always about glorious independence; sometimes it’s just about being the only one left holding the bag.
I remember this one project, years ago, at a company I used to work for. We were all supposed to be a team on this thing, right? A big new initiative, lots of buzz. But then, bit by bit, people started getting pulled away. One person got shifted to another “top priority” task, another key person left the company, and before I knew it, this massive, complicated project was pretty much just… me. The grand team had dwindled, and I was the one left to figure it all out. My “horse” in this scenario? My trusty old computer and sheer stubbornness, I suppose.
The early days were a real grind. I’m talking about staring at my screen until the words blurred, fueled by endless cups of coffee. I had to get my head around a load of new systems and processes, stuff I hadn’t really touched in depth before. I’d spend hours just trying to get one small piece of the puzzle to fit, then move on to the next. It felt like trying to build a carriage with just a pocketknife and some twine.
I vividly recall the process:
- I’d be sketching out entire workflows on notepads because there wasn’t anyone to properly brainstorm with. Just me and my thoughts, trying to connect all the dots.
- I spent so much time digging through online forums and obscure documentation, trying to solve problems that probably would have been a quick chat if there was someone else around with a bit more experience in that specific area.
- There were so many evenings where I was the last one in the office, or working from home late into the night, just trying to make some progress, any progress.
It was tough, really tough. You feel incredibly isolated when you’re in that kind of spot. There’s no one to easily bounce ideas off of, no one to share the victories with, and certainly no one to share the blame if things go sideways. It’s all on your shoulders. If it tanked, it was my failure. Simple as that.
So, what happened in the end? Well, I did manage to get something delivered. It wasn’t the all-singing, all-dancing masterpiece everyone had dreamt of at the start, but it was functional. It worked. But honestly, by the time it was done, I was completely wiped out. Utterly drained. The project was technically “implemented,” but the cost to me was pretty high.
That whole experience taught me a valuable lesson. Being a ‘one man one horse’ operation can force you to learn and adapt incredibly quickly, and there’s a certain pride in that. But it’s often a sign that something’s not quite right with the bigger picture – maybe poor planning, not enough resources, or unrealistic expectations. It’s just not a sustainable way to work in the long run. You need a team, you need support, you need shared responsibility. Looking back, while I learned a ton from being pushed into that corner, I also realized I’d much rather be part of a well-supported team, even a small one, than be the lone rider trying to do it all. You get better results, and you don’t burn yourself out in the process.
